Hot Springs National Park in Garland County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Geology Rocks!

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 22, 2026

1. Geology Rocks! Marker

Inscription. Many years ago, this region of Arkansas was at the bottom of a deep ocean. Mud slowly built up on the seafloor and eventually became shale, a rock that results from mud subjected to high pressure and temperatures. Built up sand became sandstone, which often has grains you can see with your eyes. The white "veins" visible in many rocks around the park are cracks that were filled by quartz, a mineral made of oxygen and silicon that resembles glass. When the mountains around you were built, the heat and pressure were so high that quartz was deposited in cracks in the rocks. As you walk along the Grand Promenade, look for examples of shale, sandstone, and quartz veins.

Captions:
The gray rock visible here is Hot Springs Sandstone, which was formed about 300 million years ago. The glassy cracks visible in the sandstone are quartz veins.

Tufa is a rock made of more recent mineral deposits of calcium, carbon, and oxygen left behind by the hot springs. When the Grand Promenade was built, many tufa deposits were removed from this area.

The black, flaky rock visible here is shale. Like sandstone, shale is often

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formed in marine environments. The grains are finer than sandstone, and the rock tends to break into layers.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Natural Features.

Location. 34° 30.967′ N, 93° 3.135′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is in Hot Springs National Park. It is on Central Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Advocate for Nature (within shouting distance of this marker); Water Quality through Time

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, March 22, 2026

2. Geology Rocks! Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); "A Handsome and Durable Structure" (within shouting distance of this marker); DeSoto Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); Strolling the Grand Promenade (within shouting distance of this marker); A Landscaped Resort (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Erosion Effects (about 300 feet away); “A Modern and First Class Hotel” (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

More about this marker. Marker can be found along the Grand Promenade

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.